Rotary engine.



1 PATENTE'QD AUG. 18, 1903. GRAVES. v

` RQJ'IALRY ENGINE.

'APPLIQMEQN FILED JUNE 22, 1903.

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Vmi MODEL.

wif/mme@ 4 UNITED STATES Patented August 18, 1903.

` PATENT OFFICE.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LetterslPatent N 0. 736,383, dated August 18, 1903. `Application filed June 22| 1903. Serial No, 162,568. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that I', JOSEPH GRAVES, a citi- 1 zen of the United States, residing at Knob-` which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to rotary engines,

` and particularly to the class of impact rotary engines, the object of the invention being to provide an engine which will be extremely simplein construction and in which the piston-head will: be so mounted as to insure against leakage' of steam between them and the cylinder-head.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following description.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numeralsof reference indicate similar parts in both views,

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the engine at right angles to the piston-shaft. Fig. 2 is a vertical section at right angles to Fig. 1`.`

Referring now to the drawings, the present engine consists of a' cylinder including the ring 5, against the ends of which are bolted the heads 6 and 7, packing-rings 8 and 9 being disposed between the ends of the ring and the head to prevent leakage of steam. In the head and centrally thereof are the bearings 10 and 11, in which is mounted the shaft 12, which carries the piston.

the present instance are three in number and are shown at 11, 12, and 13. and 13are of substantially V direction, while the plate-12 has the shape of a compouhd'cur've from end to end. The piston-shaft has an angular hub l 14. 4formed thereomand against one side face of this hub is disposed the bight portion of the' plate 11, the plate 12 being disposed against the opposite face ofthe hub, while the U-shaped plate The piston con-. sists of a number of metal plates, which in The plates 11` shape, the ex-LA tremities thereof being curved in the sarnaA 13 4is disposed with its bight portion against the plate 12. To hold these several plates to the hub of the shaft, a bolt 15 is engaged through the several plates and through the hub, so that the plates may have a slight p pivotal movement, it being noted that the free ends of the several Vplates are substantially eqnidistant `rotatably of the shaft. The several plates of the piston are of the same width and in their side edges are channels 16, in which are disposed packing-strips 1.7, which are pressed outwardly against the inner faces of the cylinder-heads by the action of the springs 18, so that the packing-strips are in close contact with the cylinder-heads. This arrangement of the packing-strips, together with the pivotal mounting of the plates of the piston, insures against leakagelof steam between the sides of the plates and the cylinderheads.

In the upper side of the ring 5 of the cyl- `indher is an inlet-port 19, with which is connected a steam-supply pipe 20, from which the steam is directed against the piston heads or wings formed by the ends of the plates 11,

`12, and 13, the outlet-port 21 being formed at the bottom of the ring 5, with which is connected an exhaust-pipe 22.

In the operation of the engine the steam strikes against the piston heads or wings and by its impact repels them, and thus rotates the shaft, the heads or wings, with the springpressed packing-strips, accommodating themselves to any unevenness due to wear or other canse, so that escape of steam and low efficiency-are provided against.

It will be understood, of course, that any suitable motive fluid may be employed to operate the motor.

1..` In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder, of ashaft rotatably mountedxtherein and pistou-heads pivoted to the shaft and Amovable at right angles to the headsof" the cylinder, the piston-heads having packingstrips slidably engaged in their side edge portions and provided with means for holding them normally and yieldably projected..

packing-strips in yieldable Contact with the cylinder-heads.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' JOSEPH GRAVES.

Witnesses:

JOHN BRENDEL, JAMES GRAVES. 

